Sleeve formers



Nov. 19, 1957 Q E. JOURNEY 2,813,665

SLEEVE' FORMERS Filed April 15, 1955 INVENTOR hired btates The present invention relates to sleeve formers for use in dry cleaning establishments or the like and more particularly is concerned with means for locking the former parts in the operative position yet permitting the ready and easy release of the parts quickly and with a minimum of eitort on the part of the operator.

Broadly, the former comprises a pair of complemental members positioned in side to side relationship, means pivotally interconnecting the members for movement toward and away from each other, a handle carried by the means pivotally interconnecting the members and means slidable longitudinally of one of the members for engagement with the handle when the handle has been manipulated to move the movable member away from the other member to lock such members in the extended position, the slidable member automatically returning to its inoperative position when the operator applies pressure to the handle to move the movable member toward the other member.

The salient object of my invention is to provide a locking means for a sleeve former which is simple in structural detail, positive and eicient in operation and capable of being easily and cheaply manufactured.

With the above and other advantageous objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and, in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like reference characters denote the same or similar eiements in the several views, and, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the former with the members in the closed position.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the former shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the former with the members in the partially extended position, and,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, the view looking in the direction of the arrows.

The former includes a substantially xed or immovable member and a movable member 11 pivotally connected thereto as shown at 12. Each of the members 1i) and 11 is preferably ovoid in cross-section and made of Florida cedar with the surfaces sanded to prevent any damage to the sleeve lining due to hanging or catching of the former in the sleeve. Obviously, the former may be made from other materials and the cross-section of the former members may be of any suitable character.

The pivotal connection 12 includes a steel rod 13 of the proper resiliency, and, one end of the rod is bent to form an eye 14. The eye 14 is lodged in a recess or groove 15 which extends longitudinally of the member 11 and is secured therein by a pivot pin assembly 16. When the members are in the closed position, the rod 13 will lie in the groove 15 as can be seen from Figure l.

The rod is further bent to form a downward loop 17 and an upward loop 1@ with the respective loops dening a section of S shape. In Figure 3, it will be observed that the lower face of the member 16B is grooved longitudinally as at 19 and a pivot pin assembly P is iitted into the loop portion 18 for securing the rod 13 to the member 10. The S shaped portion of the rod permits that portion of the rod intermediate the S shaped portion and the eye 14 to nest in the grooves of the members when such members are in the closed position shown in Figure 1. As a portion of the rod is lodged in the recess or groove 19, there can be no appreciable displacement latervally of the members 10 and 11.

The rod 13 extends downwardly from the loop 18 at an obtuse angle thereby forming a handle element 20, and, a fabric or similar covering 21 is applied to the rod throughout the entire length thereof.

As hereinabove stated, the salient aspect of the invention is the provision of means to lock the handle with the member 11 positioned away from fixed member 11 when the sleeve is disposed on the members, and, the locking means is indicated generally 22. More specifically, the locking means includes a fabric loop or ring 23 which embraces the member 10 and the handle 2@ and the forward movement of the loop is limited by the S shaped section. Obviously, other material of suitable character may be used in lieu of fabric provided such material is not resilient. A resilient band 2d passes through a transverse aperture 25 in the member 1G in the vicinity of the forward end of the recess 19 and each free end of the band is attached to the loop 2,3. The resilient band normally urges the loop forwardly of the former or to the position indicated in Figure 1. ln other words, the loop is normally in the non-locking position.

Assuming that the former has been inserted into the sleeve and the handle 20 moved toward the member 10 to position the member 11 away from the member l@ to stretch the sleeve, the operator grasps the loop 23 with his fingers and draws the loop rearwardly against the action of the resilient band. When the loop is moved rearwardly until it engages the handle, it will hold the members in the extended position, and, obviously this is a very simple step on the part of the operator. While the loop will remain in such adjusted position, I prefer to employ positive means to insure that there will be no slippage of the loop. This can be accomplished by providing a protuberance or hump 26 on the upper surface of the member 10 at the most strategic location and when the loop has passed beyond the hump, the inclined surface will prevent any forward movement of the loop.

When the loop is in the locked position, the members 10 and 11 will remain in the extended position until the handle 2t) is moved away from the member 10 whereupon the loop 23 is forced up the inclined surface of the hump and the resilient band 24 will urge the loop to its extreme forward position depicted in Figure 1 automatically. It should be mentioned that as soon as the handle is moved, the loop 23 is drawn forwardly by the resilient band to unlock the members 10 and 11 thereby enabling the sleeve to be removed from the former.

lt will be readily appreciated that the locking means is not only quite simple from the structural aspect including but two essential elements, but, in addition, the locking means can be manipulated in a quick and easy manner thus materially speeding up the dry cleaning process. Due to its inexpensive nature, the locking means can be manufactured and sold at a low price making it readily available to the iield. Most of the locking devices currently used by reason of their mechanical parts not only are difficult to operate but frequently require repair or replacement of certain of the parts. On the other hand, with my invention, by virtue of its low cost, the entire unit can be replaced cheaper than repairing the convenn tional locking devices.

It is also to be understood that while I have shown the locking means used in connection with a specific former, the means can be incorporated with any former wherein the former members are pivoted together for movement toward and away from each other.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is manifest that changes or modifications may be made by one skilled in the art so long as such changes or moditications mark no material departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I hereby claim as novel the following features:

l. A sleeve former comprising a pair of complemental members arranged in side to side relationship, a pivot connection between such members whereby the members may have movement toward and away from each other, a handle carried by the pivotal connection, a loop encir- References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,683 Johnston Dec. 8, 1936 2,423,521 Selby July 8, 1947 2,693,302 Journey Nov. 2, 1954 

